Liquid crystal display device

Abstract

A display device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate; a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the first substrate; a third electrode and a fourth electrode disposed on the second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer injected between the first substrate and the second substrate and including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules, where the second electrode extends substantially in a first direction, the third electrode extends substantially in a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device comprising:
 a first substrate; 
 a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate; 
 a first electrode disposed on the first substrate; 
 a second electrode disposed on the first substrate; 
 a third electrode disposed on the second substrate; 
 a fourth electrode disposed on the second substrate; 
 a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate and comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules; and 
 an insulating layer disposed on the first substrate, 
 wherein 
 the second electrode extends substantially in a first direction, 
 the third electrode extends substantially in a second direction, 
 the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other, 
 the first electrode and the second electrode overlap each other via the insulating layer, 
 the first electrode has a plate shape, 
 the second electrode comprises a plurality of branch electrodes extending parallel to each other substantially in the first direction with a first interval therebetween, and 
 the third electrode and the fourth electrode extend parallel to each other substantially in the second direction with a second interval therebetween. 
 
     
     
       2. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the first interval between two adjacent branch electrodes of the plurality of branch electrodes of the second electrode is less than about 6 micrometers. 
     
     
       3. The display device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the second interval between the third electrode and the fourth electrode is less than about 6 micrometers. 
 
     
     
       4. The display device of  claim 3 , wherein
 a width of the first electrode and a width of the second electrode are substantially equal to or different from the first interval, and 
 a width of the third electrode and a width of the fourth electrode are substantially equal to or different from the second interval. 
 
     
     
       5. The display device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate; and 
 a second thin film transistor disposed on the second substrate, 
 wherein 
 at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is connected to the first thin film transistor, and 
 at least one of the third electrode and the fourth electrode is connected to the second thin film transistor. 
 
     
     
       6. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the liquid crystal molecules have negative dielectric anisotropy or positive dielectric anisotropy, and 
 the liquid crystal molecules are arranged substantially parallel to surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate. 
 
     
     
       7. The display device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first polarizer disposed outside the first substrate; and 
 a second polarizer disposed outside the second substrate, 
 wherein 
 when an electric field is not applied to the liquid crystal layer, a longitudinal axis of the liquid crystal molecules is arranged substantially parallel to a polarization axis of the first polarizer or the second polarizer.